– Apple’s MacBook Neo forced Windows OEMs like Dell to improve affordable laptop quality.
– The Dell XPS 13 2026 features a premium CNC aluminum build, 120 Hz QHD+ display, and good inputs.
– 8GB RAM in the XPS 13 handles normal daily use without issues, despite online concerns.
– The XPS 13 offers slightly better battery life than the MacBook Neo (14hr 48min local video playback).
– The $599 Dell XPS 13 could spark a competitive, consumer-benefiting affordable Windows laptop market.
The Unexpected Rival
Many would argue that by releasing the MacBook Neo at a good price, Apple has done a major service to the Windows laptop ecosystem. The MacBook Neo offers superb value at $599 with its excellent metallic construction, a 500-nit IPS display, and good performance. Windows laptop OEMs were left with no choice but to respond with comparable laptops. The Dell XPS 13 2026 is one of the first true MacBook Neo rivals, and it looks to be an incredible one.
A Totally New Build
We got our hands on the Dell XPS 13 2026 for a brief first impressions video and came away quite impressed. Gone are the rickety plastic chassis that you expect from an affordable Windows laptop, the weak, washed-out display, and the underwhelming input devices. The Dell XPS 13 2026 features almost none of these traditional trappings of affordable Windows laptops.
Key Specs and Features
The new Dell XPS 13 is a slim and light CNC aluminum notebook with a 120 Hz QHD+ display, a backlit keyboard, a large glass touchpad, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 52 Wh battery. Be sure to check out our full initial impressions of the laptop linked below.
Performance Concerns Addressed
While we haven’t yet reviewed the Dell XPS 13, the biggest drawback of the XPS 13 vs the MacBook Neo would be the performance. We did notice in our hands-on that, despite packing just 8 GB of RAM, the XPS 13 handles day-to-day tasks without a hitch. So, the concerns around Windows 11 and 8 GB of RAM that have dominated conversations online since the XPS 13 launched seem a bit overblown.
Dave2D’s Take on RAM
This was also confirmed by Dave2D in his initial testing of the Dell XPS 13. Dave2D reports that, although the XPS 13 is slower than the MacBook Neo on a purely horsepower basis and macOS also handles 8 GB RAM better than Windows, the XPS 13 is no slouch. The 8GB of RAM only starts to affect Windows 11 in extreme cases, like running video editing software while playing a bunch of videos, etc. For normal, routine use, the new Dell XPS 13 reportedly has no issues due to 8 GB of RAM, even with many browser tabs open.
Battery Life Comparison
Finally, Dell advertises 17 hours of Netflix streaming on a single charge for the XPS 13. Dave2D measured 14 hours and 48 minutes of local video playback. This result is a little over an hour longer than the MacBook Neo.
The Final Verdict for Now
While we have to reserve final judgments for our review, it appears that Dell has crafted a superb value-oriented Windows laptop in the XPS 13 2026. We expect the XPS 13 to sell quite well, especially at the $599 student price. This has the potential to kickstart an affordable Windows laptop race, which would immensely benefit consumers.
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